xp upgrade from 98se

[Colin Barnhorst]

The only advantage to formatting ntfs rather converting to ntfs later is
that the files system should run a little faster. However, even that can be
rectified with a boot time defragger such as the one in Diskeeper 9 Pro and
Perfect Disk which can defrag the file system in addition to the files.

This whole thread is simply too esoteric. Veterans to this newsgroup are
contantly encouraging users to back up their systems with all sorts of
backup programs, frequently Acronis or another imaging program. It cannot
be that hard to do, especially if the user has a dvd rewriter or a second
hard drive.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I think you missed the point...
although an upgrade generally does complete...
that does not guarantee a 100% working or stable system.

Neither does a clean installation.

If the upgrade "hoses" the system...unless the drive was backed up...
there is nothing to go back to.
Unless the data itself was backed up...

Which is why one always backs up data before making any serious changes
to an OS, including installing patches and service packs.




--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[philo]

Neither does a clean installation.




Which is why one always backs up data before making any serious changes
to an OS, including installing patches and service packs.

Hey guys...
you've all made some great points...
and though I may not agree with everyone 100%...
I just wanted to say how refreshing it was to talk to everyone in an
intelligent and cool manner.
None of the stupid name calling and inane comments found on some of the
other news
groups.
A real pleasure
and thanks for the great discussion!

 

[Ken Blake]

In

"Usually" being the operative word. Sorry, but I many others
don't
wish to gamble seven plus years of software purchases, updates,
and
data on "usually".

I certainly don't think that you should gamble anything, and
nowhere did I suggest that.

The mistake that you and a few others make is the false
assumption
that most users have the technical ability to make such
backups.

I think you miss the critical point entirely. Backup is
essential, whether you are doing an upgrade or not. Not having a
backup is *always* "gambl[ing] seven plus years of software
purchases, updates, and data" and is a foolhardy thing to do.

Although making backups is generally easy and well within the
technical skills of most beginners I know (with a little help to
get started), I make no assumptions about what technical
abilities most users have. But anyone who doesn't have that
ability desparately needs to acquire it. It's not hard to learn
and is a far greater need than upgrading your version of Windows.

For
most users, your caveat to "have backups and anything else
needed to
reinstall" would be virtually impossible to achieve without
hands-on
expert assistance.

Nonsense! That's not at all true in my experience. There may be
an occasional person like that, but the great majority of
beginners I'ved worked with have easily learned to do backups
with just a little help from me.

No, the safest way to effect an XP Pro upgrade is
to first have someone who knows what they are doing either
image the
drive(s) beforehand and store the image externally or clone the
drive(s) beforehand. That way, reverting back to a working
Win98
system is just a matter of restoring the image or swapping
drives.

That's one form of backup, and it happens to be a good one for
many people. It's the method I personally use. But it's not the
only choice.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

"Usually works" and "almost as good" are not words in my
vocabulary!

Then you need to enrich your vocabulary. The point I was making
when I said "usually works" was that because it "usually works,"
it makes sense to try that way first. If it doesn't work, you can
always revert to a clean installation.

Do you own a car? Does it always work or does it "usually work"?
Do you refrain from using it because it only "usually works"?

Is your car a Ford (substitute Chevrolet, Toyota, or whatever you
have)? Why don't you have a Rolls-Royce (substitute Ferrari,
Maserati, or whatever you think is the best)? Your Ford (or
whatever) is only "almost as good."

"Usually works" and "almost as good" are facts of life. Nothing
is guaranteed to work all the time, and very few of us have the
luxury of being able to always buy the best of everything.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

message



I think you missed the point...
although an upgrade generally does complete...
that does not guarantee a 100% working or stable system.
If the upgrade "hoses" the system...unless the drive was backed
up...
there is nothing to go back to.

On the contrary, I think you're the one who missed the point.
Bruce's comment was in reply to JT's reply to my message
recommending at least *trying* an upgrade first, but *only*
after first making a backup. I said "However, don't assume that
doing an upgrade relieves you of the need to backup your data,
etc. before beginning. Before starting to upgrade, it's always
prudent to recognize that things like a sudden power loss can
occur in the middle of it and cause the loss of everything. For
that reason you should make sure you have backups and anything
else you need to reinstall if the worst happens."

 

[philo]

In


Then you need to enrich your vocabulary. The point I was making
when I said "usually works" was that because it "usually works,"
it makes sense to try that way first. If it doesn't work, you can
always revert to a clean installation.

As long as your important data is backed up...I have no problem with
your statement

Do you own a car? Does it always work or does it "usually work"?
Do you refrain from using it because it only "usually works"?
Is your car a Ford (substitute Chevrolet, Toyota, or whatever you
have)? Why don't you have a Rolls-Royce (substitute Ferrari,
Maserati, or whatever you think is the best)? Your Ford (or
whatever) is only "almost as good."

"Usually works" and "almost as good" are facts of life. Nothing
is guaranteed to work all the time, and very few of us have the
luxury of being able to always buy the best of everything.

Now you may not believe this, but I do not own a car (or a TV)...
however i do have a "company van" .It now has close to 90,000 miles on it
and has *never* failed yet...I keep it maintained very well...better than if
I owned my own car.

Same with my computer systems... If one goes down for maintenance or an
upgrade...
I have quite a few more that can go on-line... so I am *never* without a
working computer
here...generally I have over a dozen ready to go on-line at any time.
Also have 3 UPS systems and enough batteries to run everything for over 48
hours.
Maybe I am a bit too over-cautious...
I wear a belt but no suspenders...so as you can see...I am willing to take
an occasional risk


here are links to *some* of my backup systems

www.plazaearth.com/philo/comps.jpg

www.plazaearth.com/philo/batt.jpg

 

[Ken Blake]

In

As long as your important data is backed up...I have no problem
with
your statement

Then it would seem that we basically agree. Having a backup was
an important part of my recommendation.

 

[philo]

In


Then it would seem that we basically agree. Having a backup was
an important part of my recommendation.

yes..
it was not all that long ago that i had an extreme phobia of computers
and was just using a manual typewriter...
then thanks to my girlfriend who gave me her old computer...
i was bitten by the bug...and lurked (and occasionally posted) on some of
the win98
groups...
i got a *lot* of good advice from you (and others) and doubt if i ever
thanked you

so now, five years later: Thanks!!!!

 

[Ken Blake]

In

yes..
it was not all that long ago that i had an extreme phobia of
computers
and was just using a manual typewriter...
then thanks to my girlfriend who gave me her old computer...
i was bitten by the bug...and lurked (and occasionally posted)
on
some of the win98
groups...
i got a *lot* of good advice from you (and others) and doubt if
i ever
thanked you

so now, five years later: Thanks!!!!

Thanks very much for the kind words, and you're most welcome.